2010 AWARDS Users Conference

CONNECTING THE FOOTHOLD COMMUNITY

Thursday, July 15, 2010 | 9AM to 5PM

The annual AWARDS Users Conference returns in 2010 on a mission to connect the members of the Foothold Community with a full day of information exchange and networking with leaders in human services and information technology.

The 2009 AWARDS Users Conference: Over 200 people representing dozens of different human service providers from across the country came together in New York City for a one-day conference. The video above includes snapshot interviews with our client community and will give you a sense of the conference.

2010 Keynote Speaker

Dr. John Francis: The Planetwalker

Click above to view Dr. Francis' TED Talk from the 2008 TED Convention.

In our ongoing effort to provide thought-provoking and unusual presentations that push the boundaries of the traditional conference speaker, we present John Francis, Ph.D. Dr. Francis is known the world over as the Planetwalker. In 1971, Dr. Francis witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay. The effects of the spill compelled him to stop using motorized vehicles. Several months later, to stop the arguments about the power of one person’s actions, he took a vow of silence. His non‐motorized lifestyle lasted twenty‐two years, and his vow of silence seventeen. During that time Dr. Francis walked across the United States earning a B.A at Southern Oregon State College, an M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana and a Ph.D. in land resources at the University of Wisconsin. He later sailed and walked through the Caribbean and then walked the length of South America. Dr. Francis will speak on his journey, his unique perspective on environment, and how we can each make a difference in our world. He is the author of: Planetwalker. 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence.

FormBuilder: Forming, Informing and Reforming your Forms

This session will train you to build the forms, assessments, and surveys that you need for data collection. You will learn the tips, tricks, and ‘dos and don’ts’ of building forms. Learn how to create forms that allow for easy data entry while also collecting the rich data you need for your reports.

Improving Your Internal Help Desk

The fastest way to get your AWARDS questions answered is to…answer them yourself! If you are on your internal Help Desk (or you’re supposed to be on it) this session is for you. This session will cover the basics of investigating, troubleshooting and responding to Help Desk questions from your staff. It will also cover how to communicate more effectively with Foothold Help Desk.

Let’s Implement! The AWARDS Startup Information System

Designed for both new agencies and agencies implementing AWARDS in new divisions or programs, this session uses the online AWARDS Startup Information System as a jumping off point to discuss Best Practices. You will benefit from the expertise of hundreds of program implementations to provide you with tips and tools to lead your agency to successful implementations. Topics include utilizing successful implementation strategies, understanding configuration versus customization, and maximizing available Foothold resources. This session will close with an interactive Q & A session structured to provide tailored advice to agencies.

AWARDS Toolkit: AWARDS Tips, Tricks, and Tools of the Trade

This session is intended to demonstrate some of the key features of AWARDS that users either do not already know about, or perhaps know about but are not using to the fullest potential. Electronic signatures, Reception Desk Report options, FormBuilder enhancements, and more.

Using the AWARDS BillingBuilder to Maximize Your Revenue

This session will focus on the relationship between service provision and billing and is ideal for those agencies who are just beginning to use the BillingBuilder or who are considering doing so. Maximizing your agency’s revenue depends on good documentation. When you configure your billing in AWARDS, you strengthen the link between the two. Learn about AWARDS’ configuration options and come away with the tools you need to make the most of the BillingBuilder.

New Features in AWARDS

A Demo of New Features in AWARDS released since the last Users Conference and a sneak preview of upcoming functionality

Data by Design: Making Your AWARDS Data Work for You

This session will provide an overview of some of the most useful reporting features in AWARDS and how organizations use them to make programmatic decisions and achieve agency goals. The Foothold facilitator will demonstrate how to run some of the most popular AWARDS reports, as well a few obscure ones you might not know about, and will discuss tips and tricks for pulling data out of AWARDS. And a panel of your colleagues will describe how they actually use these reports and others to effectively manage their programs, report to funders, write grants, and make informed decisions.

PROS made Painless

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about PROS including how AWARDS can help your agency make the transition to PROS. A representative from NYS OMH will join us to answer all your questions. The PROS program type is unique to New York State at this time.

Connecting to Clients with Service Plans

How to master AWARDS service plans: writing plans and performing reviews.

Inside the Workshop

The Chief Technology Officer and Application Development Division Director will take questions and offer insights into the architecture behind AWARDS and how it will change over time.